Greening of the Shipping Industry

Main Issue

The global shipping industry is one of the most direct sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the world’s oceans. These emissions increase levels of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the oceans. This, in turn, leads to ocean acidification.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed a global framework to improve maritime energy efficiency, including in ships. But most ships are registered in developing countries and may lack capacity to implement IMO measures. The international community needs to help these countries build capacity to improve the energy efficiency of their ships as a key tactic to fight climate change.

What We Do

The GEF supports the IMO’s call for improvements in ship energy efficiency, helping create a global platform to address the rise of CO2 emissions from the international maritime sector. The project is expected to help reduce 24-80 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2020, which will reduce pressure on the global marine system. At the same time, the project aims to catalyze a global transformation in the area of ship efficiency by stimulating private sector investment in ballast water treatment technology.